ABOUT THE RESERVE WEALTH COLLECTIVE
Who We Are
The Reserve Wealth Collective is a Northwestern Mutual-affiliated wealth management firm managing approximately $500 million in assets under management. Based on St. Simons Island, Georgia, we serve high-income and high-net-worth clients and families across the Southeast, providing integrated financial planning, investment management, and coordinated tax strategy. We are a team of hardworking, generous professionals who care deeply for our clients and for each other. We give grace where it’s due, always do what we say we will do, and prioritize character over resume. We are in a new phase of growth with a clear path toward $1 billion in AUM and beyond. We are building the operational infrastructure to get there with discipline and intention. This hire is central to that mission.
THE ROLE
Role Summary
The Chief Operating Officer is responsible for running the business day-to-day and building the operational infrastructure required to support sustained, meaningful growth. This role exists to free the CEO to focus exclusively on client relationships, business development, and firm vision, while increasing the firm’s ability to grow, perform, and deliver a consistent client experience at scale.
The COO will own four core areas:
1. Driving growth
2. Leading the team
3. Running the business
4. Ensuring strong client outcomes
The COO functions as the firm’s Integrator, translating vision into execution, aligning people and priorities, and ensuring the business operates with clarity, accountability, and momentum. This is a high-impact leadership role for someone who thinks like an owner, operates with an entrepreneurial mindset, and is motivated to drive results.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Core Focus Areas - Below are the core responsibilities of the role, including the estimated allocation of time.
Growth and Strategic Initiatives (30%)
Note: Growth here means operational and strategic execution of growth by building the systems, capacity, and team alignment that allow the firm to expand consistently. The CEO sources and cultivates client relationships; the COO builds the machine that supports and scales them.
- Own how the business grows by developing and executing the firm’s growth strategy
- Drive new business results by ensuring the team is focused, aligned, and executing at a high level day-to-day
- Lead execution and integration of mergers and acquisitions: CEO sources and vets opportunities; COO owns execution, coordination, and integration
- Build and implement the structure, systems, and processes that allow growth to happen consistently and not depend on any one person
- Identify and drive key growth opportunities, including expanding services such as tax strategy and planning
- Maintain a strong focus on profitability and performance, ensuring growth translates into a stronger, more durable business
- Operate with an ownership mindset. Take initiative, solve problems, and drive results without waiting to be told what to do
Success Measures —Growth and Strategic Initiatives
- Consistent business growth targeting approximately 20% year-over-year
- Successful execution and integration of acquisitions
- Increased team capacity and productivity
- Growth that improves both revenue and profitability
Leadership and Accountability (25%)
- Lead and develop the full team to ensure alignment, accountability, and performance
- Conduct regular 1:1s with direct reports and establish clear expectations across the organization
- Build a culture of ownership, follow-through, and high performance
- Serve as the primary operational point of contact for the business, reducing unnecessary escalation to the CEO
- Ensure priorities are clear and execution is consistent across the team
- Partner with external coaching and facilitation support to continue developing leaders and strengthening the team
Success Measures — Leadership and Accountability
- Leadership team operating with clarity and accountability
- Reduced reliance on CEO for team management and decision-making
- Strong leadership bench and sustained team engagement
Business Operations and Profitability (25%)
- Own day-to-day operations of the business, ensuring efficiency, consistency, and scalability
- Translate vision into clear priorities, action plans, and measurable outcomes
- Oversee operational systems and workflows to improve efficiency and reduce friction
- Monitor and manage key business metrics, including revenue, profitability, capacity, and overall performance
- Partner with external financial resources as needed while maintaining full ownership of business performance
- Ensure decisions align with both short-term performance and long-term scalability
Success Measures — Business Operations
- Improved operational efficiency and consistency
- Clear, real-time visibility into business performance
- Increased profitability and resource utilization
- Reduced operational bottlenecks
Client Experience and Outcomes (20%)
- Ensure a consistent, high-quality client experience across the firm
- Build systems and processes that support strong client relationships at scale
- Partner with advisors and service team to maintain and elevate client confidence
- Ensure growth never comes at the expense of the client experience
Success Measures — Client Experience
- Consistently high-quality client experience across all touchpoints
- Strong client retention and satisfaction
- Scalable service model that supports continued growth
Organizational Structure and Role Clarity (Embedded Across All Areas)
- Own the design and evolution of the firm’s organizational structure
- Define and standardize roles across the business, including advisors, service roles, operations, and growth functions
- Ensure clear ownership, decision rights, and accountability across all roles
- Align structure with the firm’s growth trajectory
- Support career pathing and role progression as the firm scales
Success Measures — Organizational Structure
- Clear accountability across the organization
- Reduced role overlap and confusion
- Scalable structure aligned with future growth
FIRST 6–12 MONTHS
Key Priorities
- Develop a deep understanding of the business, including people, clients, financials, and operations
- Step into full ownership of day-to-day operations and execution
- Free the CEO from involvement in operational decisions and team management
- Begin executing on growth initiatives, including new business development, expanded services (e.g., tax strategy), and improved team capacity
- Lead execution and integration of active and future M and A opportunities
- Establish a clear leadership cadence, accountability rhythms, and performance tracking
- Identify and begin addressing structural gaps and inefficiencies
QUALIFICATIONS
What We’re Looking For
- 8–10+ years of senior leadership experience, ideally in financial services, professional services, or a similarly complex, client-focused environment
- Demonstrated track record scaling teams and organizations through a high-growth phase
- Strong operational and people leadership capability. You have managed multi-functional teams and driven firm-wide accountability
- Proven ability to drive execution and accountability. You build systems that outlast your involvement in any given task
- High emotional intelligence and strong communication skills. You can align a team, manage up to a CEO, and represent the firm externally with credibility
- Experience working with founders or in entrepreneurial environments preferred
- Familiarity with EOS or similar operating frameworks preferred
- Financial services or wealth management background is preferred; what matters most is the ability to learn an industry quickly and lead within it
- Bachelors Degree in related field required; MBA preferred
Leadership Traits
- Calm, confident, and steady under pressure
- High ownership and accountability. You don’t wait to be told what to do
- Strong decision-making ability with the judgment to know when to escalate
- Able to lead without ego and be respected by teams, not just followed
- Balances structure with flexibility as the business evolves
- Entrepreneurial mindset with a clear focus on growth and results
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
One Year In
- The CEO is no longer involved in day-to-day operations or internal execution. His time belongs to clients and vision
- The business achieves consistent, meaningful growth targeting ~20% year-over-year
- The full team is aligned, accountable, and executing at a high level
- Roles across the firm are clearly defined, documented, and scalable
- Operations run efficiently without constant escalation or firefighting
- The business is positioned to scale well beyond its current capacity
COMPENSATION and BENEFITS
- This role is compensated at a level designed to attract a seasoned, high-caliber operator.
- Base Salary $175,000–$200,000, commensurate with experience
- Meaningful performance-based bonus tied to firm AUM growth milestones and operational performance. Target bonus of 20–30% of base salary, creating total cash compensation potential of $210,000–$260,000+.
- Location St. Simons Island, GA preferred. Will also consider Savannah, GA. Relocation considered, assistance is not standard but may be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
Why Join The Reserve Wealth Collective
This is not a role designed to manage a steady-state operation. It’s a seat at the leadership table of a firm on a genuine growth trajectory, with the opportunity to shape what that trajectory looks like. You’ll have real authority, a founder who is deeply committed to building something exceptional, and a team that is talented, caring, and ready to be led. You’ll operate in one of the most beautiful places in the Southeast, the Georgia coast, with a quality of life that major metro markets simply can’t offer. The right person will not just execute someone else’s playbook. They will help write it.
ROLE CONTEXT - Additional Notes
- This role is critical to unlocking the firm’s next phase of growth
- This role replaces a previously fragmented operational structure and carries significant organizational impact from day one
- Success requires earning trust, building relationships, and leading through influence, not force
External coaching and facilitation support will remain in place to support leadership development and team growth
Pay: $175,000.00 - $260,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Referral program
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
